<p>On paper, your application looks fantastic. Near-perfect GPA, fantastic scores, amazing ECs, etc, etc, etc. Statistically, you’re golden. However, remember that a good 75% of applicants to the Ivy League are “statistically golden”. So let’s look at some of your other stuff to try to get you a better idea of your chances. </p>
<p>“National honors society
Astronomy Club (president from 2011-present, was just re-elected)
Technology club (vice president 2011-2012)
Math team (2010-2011)
Baseball ump (2010)
200+ volunteer hours at hospital
500 + volunteer hours working with kids with autism, etc.
30+ volunteer hours of miscellanious things (am member of BBYO)
Research at very well-known facility in physics. Working with multiple professors and scientists, have a sick project, will enter INTEL, ISEF, Siemens, etc.
Prestigious science program in 2011 (some 50 accepted out of hundreds)
Prestigious research program this summer (some 20 accepted out of hundreds)
Have shadowed doctors (50+ hours)”</p>
<p>Clearly, you have a ton of pretty awesome ECs. But even though this can be a good thing, it does kind of make you look robotic. I’m not saying you are; I’m saying that’s the impression. What’s your most favorite activity? What’s had the greatest impact on you? What research are you doing? Why do you like it? When you’re going into your app for these great colleges, you MUST ask yourself these questions. ECs are supposed to show your qualitative side, and your straight-up enumeration of what seems like every activity known to man seems like a bit more quantitative to me. </p>
<p>Again, I’m not saying that doing these ECs are bad. You seem like an extremely well rounded individual, with great opportunities that you have clearly utilized. Just make sure you’re voicing which of these opportunities that you’ve utilized are important to YOU!</p>
<p>First, I’m a research person. Siemens semi this past year and placed at ISEF. Siemens is most definitely early enough to help. Siemens results come back before early applications go out (though only by 4 days, so don’t plan to write essays about it). If you’re a regional finalist, the regional finals will take place too late for early applications but well in time for regular applications (several weeks before they’re sent out) if you place 1st and go to national (nationals are also before regular apps go out).
ISEF is too late to help and as far as I’ve heard, only foreign nations have their qualifiers in time for RD apps really. The vast majority of east coast fairs will not choose their finalists until a few days or maybe a week before results come back. at that point it’s too late.
STS comes back in time to update RD for semis and finalists, but not for placing at national finals. STS is usually icing on the cake.
Also, don’t listen to the kid who said you need to be into it 24/7. I put in maybe 1 hr of work a week with my partner, our stuff was comp sci and it was all independent, no lab or mentor. If you really love what you’re doing then you can do in an hour what others take weeks to do. The kids who NEED to try 24/7 to do well are the ones who are trying to force it.
Also, what research program are you in? I live on LI and a lot of them are near me. off the top of my head I’m thinking either Simons, RSI, or Garcia. is it one of those? Cuz you an actually list them by name on the app. if RSI I’d say match for all these schools. RSI has a lower acceptance rate than the schools that sponsor it (harvard, MIT, etc.) and no student accepted to RSI has ever been denied from those schools (according to their database).
Anyway, I hope to see you at ISEF this coming year or maybe some other things! (hopefully I’ll qualify again as well)
The rest of your stuff looks pretty good. ECs are good, though I agree with the robotic thing, so be sure to write strong essays. SAT is good as well.
I’d say you have a good shot at pretty much all the ivies and wouldn’t put any above mid-reach. Though I wouldn’t put any of them at match either at this point.
Be sure to apply to some safeties and some non-ivies and stuff. I’d recommend applying places like NYU, UVA, etc. as they would be good matches for you. Good luck with everything!
chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1358671-chance-me-cs-schools-top-schools-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1358671-chance-me-cs-schools-top-schools-will-chance-back.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the long post, I will be sure to chance you back when I have time. No its neither of those programs but I have heard of friends doing RSI and Simons but I am out of state. Also, if it makes a difference, I am now an AP scholoar with Honor and a candidate for National AP Scholar.</p>